CEA halts construction of hotel near Sri Pada
November 1, 2016 02:43 pm
The construction of the proposed hotel project at Peak Field Estate in Nallathanniya near the Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), has been halted following the intervention of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
Estate superintendent Dishan Seneviratne said that he was notified of this by officials who engaged in an inspection tour of the location.
The construction of the new hotel had been planned after demolishing an old building located in the estate near Muray Falls above the Maussakele Reservoir. However, instructions have been issued not to carry out any development activity at the site without the approval of the CEA.
The hotel was proposed to be built at the 82 acres of land which was purchased by a businessman from Dubai while a helicopter landing pad had also been built at the estate due to him always visiting their by helicopter.
The superintend assured that only a holiday resort is being built at the estate and nothing else, as claimed by certain social media posts, and that the estate is not located in the Sri Pada reserve or near the sacred mountain.
Environmentalists say that this hotel project could adversely affect the endangered animals and plants within the sensitive environmental zone of the Sri Pada.
